With strings attached: PTI likely to make compromises to accommodate coalition partners

Political analyst says this would be contrary to the party’s agenda regarding change.

PESHAWAR:

With three coalition partners in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will have to work through many compromises to govern the province.

The party is likely to be greatly influenced by its coalition partners, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) and the Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan (AJIP). Unlike the PTI, the JI and QWP have more experienced lawmakers.

With the public’s mandate, the PTI is the leading party in K-P having secured 55 out of 122 seats in the provincial assembly. The QWP has 10 seats, JI has eight and the AJIP has five. Several independent MPAs and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPAs are also extending their support to the PTI.

The PTI has made agreements to give at least three ministerial portfolios each to the JI and QWP. It is also planning to give one portfolio to AJIP.

“In the developing scenario, PTI will have to sacrifice at least seven ministries out of a total 15. This will be contrary to the PTI’s agenda regarding change,” said a political analyst.

“With the youth’s support, the party is considered more of a reform-minded political force. The JI comes across as a revivalist party while the QWP leaders are attempting to portray a nationalist front to replace the Awami National Party (ANP),” he added.



The variance of their objectives could lead the coalition partners to form internal differences, not unlike the previous coalition partners which ruled the province. The ANP and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also developed differences towards the end of their rule, with both parties blaming each other for their declining popularity.

To avoid this, several rounds of meetings have been held amongst leaders of coalition parties to resolve rifts and develop consensus on an acceptable formula. The latest round of talks was held at the residence of QWP chief Aftab Sherpao on June 6, but any clear consensus is yet to be achieved.

Insiders said PTI leaders requested the coalition partners of JI and QWP to accept two ministries each. Though QWP is willing to accept such a request, JI leaders are insisting on what they call earlier commitments made with them of three ministries to the party.

They said JI leaders are also insisting on fielding their candidate for the National Assembly seat vacated by PTI chief Imran Khan from Peshawar. JI is reportedly vying to field its candidate as a joint candidate of PTI, JI, QWP and AJIP.

The PTI and JI could confront each other on educational reforms, as the latter still wants control of that ministry. On the other hand, the QWP could raise issues over the tribal areas, as the party is considering merging the tribal belt with K-P. The PTI does not have a clear stand on this matter as yet.

Similarly, the PTI is yet to state its position on the issue of militancy and terrorism, which is the chief concern of K-P’s people. PTI maintains the federal government should take the first step in the matter.

The issues faced by the province can only be tackled with unanimity of purpose. However, the PTI remains at loggerheads with the PPP and its allies. The PTI leadership is also reluctant to shake hands with PML-N and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

The QWP, on the other hand, has a confrontational approach towards the ANP and a similar situation exists between the JI and JUI-F. Some maintain they only joined the coalition to settle scores with these rival forces.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2013.